snowtop | 003. (v2) [video]

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003. (v2) [video]

[At first, there is no sound; there is only the image of Xanth's forearm. Lines of letters curl around his fingers, twist around his hand, and spiral onto his arm. The ink, jet black, is stark against his pale skin.]

Th-this-- it means I-I've been-- t-too quiet, right? I-It... it wants me to-- t-to say... s-something.

[It's been a while since he's checked in, made sure people knew he hadn't vanished, but there is nothing to say.

The feed remains set on Xanth's arm.]

I'm... o-okay. I'm s--still here.

A-Are... are you guys... o-okay, too?

[He heard that crack some days ago. No one has called for help on the journals, so no one was hurt in the expedition that came after, and no one had been hurt during the initial bang.

Or so he hopes.]

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[Aara refused to panic yet. She didn't know what Xanth would say or do. She didn't know how he would take the news. She refused to panic more than she already was, anyway.]

I am in room 1112.

...Thank you, Xanth.

[Now Aara is scrutinizing her room. Her bed has already been made, but her small pile of books could be neatened. And she should find a better place to put her borrowed dresses. She'd try to find a place for them in the meanwhile.]

Y-You're-- welcome. I'll... b-be right there.

[Xanth memorizes the number, which isn't hard; her room is even on the same floor as his. He takes a moment to make sure he's at least halfway presentable, but there's not much he can do on such short notice. His hair is still long, down his shoulders, and unwashed; his clothes are still rumpled; and he's still thinner than he should be.

He makes his way over to Aara's room, but it takes longer than he'd like and by the time he's there, he's winded.

No, no, no, he thinks; this is stupid. Still, he takes a few seconds to catch his breath before he knocks on the door.]

[At the knock, Aara startles, then laughs lightly at herself. She really was nervous about this, wasn't she? Taking a deep, calming breath, Aara makes her way to the door and smiles tremulously when she sees it was who she expected.]

Xanth. Come in.

[She opens the door a bit wider so he can enter, but soon her brows furrow and a light frown crosses her lips. He looked exhausted--more so than even she herself felt.]

Are you unwell?

[Concern grips her, and Aara quickly forgets her own worries in that moment.]

Edited 2011-10-09 04:59 (UTC)

[Xanth smiles in return, then shakes his head to her question.]

I'm-- fine.

[He needs what everyone needs: sleep and food. Unfortunately, the first is elusive and the second requires effort that Xanth hasn't been willing to put forth these past few weeks. He has been eating; just not enough.

He steps inside, then goes to take a seat on Aara's bed. He looks to Aara questioningly, worry now coloring the smile on his face.]

[Even with his assurances, Aara isn't able to entirely quell her worry. She wished she hadn't eaten the last of her bread loaf she stowed in her room. Following Xanth to her bed, Aara is somewhat thrown by the worry now in his face, however, and she smiles a bit hesitantly in response before taking a seat next to him, hands fidgeting in her lap.]

I can make you some soup later, if you want.

[She was stalling a little, now that her heart was once again to odd flips in her chest. Worrying her lip between her teeth, Aara finds her gaze riveted to the hands in her lap and her brows furrow together.]

I don't... know how to say this...

[Not really. What's she supposed to do? Say she was a dragon? And maybe Xanth didn't know what a dragon was? And how could she get him to understand how dangerous she could be if she was ever infected again? Her shoulders slump, and she hangs her head. She should have thought all of this through, first.]

[He might well take Aara up on her offer for soup. Kairi brought him some oranges earlier today, and those have sparked some appetite.

But then Aara stalls. She looks so... dejected? Disappointed? Depressed? Xanth isn't sure. All he knows is that there is something Aara is reluctant to tell him.

He sets a hand on her shoulder and leans forward, trying to catch her gaze.]

H-Hey, don't... d-don't worry, o--okay? Just... t-take... take your t--time.

[Aara turns to look at him at his touch, hope rekindling within her as she remembers that Xanth is her friend. Taking a rejuvenating breath of air, she nods slowly. Her hands still fidget, but her movements are slower now that her mind is on other things.]

"I... hurt people, Xanth. When I got sick. Before I--before I died."

[Her heart hurts simply at the retelling, and Aara ducks her head as she tries her best to prevent her tears. She had to make sure he knew she could be dangerous. At the same time, she didn't want him to fear her. The situation was a mess already.]

I'm not--human. Not entirely.

[She brings a hand to her face, stress compiling as she rubs at her forehead. Her throat feels tight, and her eyes burn, but at least she isn't crying yet. Hopefully she didn't have any tears left.]

[Everything starts to fall into place. Aara must have contracted the plague, and then... she attacked people. Maybe a lot of people. Maybe the blood wasn't all hers.

Xanth's heart sinks. In a gesture of comfort, he lays his arm over Aara's shoulders.

But Aara's not finished yet. Xanth's brow furrows not in worry, but confusion.]

Is... i-is-- is that-- it?

[The gesture of comfort--his question--it's hard for Aara to wrap her mind around. Is that it? Did it really seem to paltry? She didn't know if she should be relieved, or worried that he didn't understand. She leans into him, allowing herself that bit of comfort.]

I'm... dangerous Xanth. I've never hurt anyone before.

[Her muscles tense.]

I am of a race that allows me to turn into what humans call a dragon. If...if anything like that happens again...

I need to be sure my friends stay away. Or...get rid of me.

[A small gurgle of a laugh that sounds more petrified than received.]

At least...it had not been too hard.

[She's shaking--trembling--but her mind is far off now, and she has yet to realize it.]

[And now Xanth sees the whole picture. Aara, driven mad by the plague, rampaged and then was slaughtered by those she sought to kill.

Without another word, Xanth pulls Aara into a hug, his other arm wrapping around her back.

(He hasn't showered in a while. Sorry, Aara.)]

[Even if Xanth smells a little ripe, Aara isn't going to be bothered by that with the state her mind is in right now. His hug is about the only thing that registers, and she curls in on herself even as she curls into his embrace.]

I--I have to tell everyone. I might--I might...

[And that is when the gathering moisture in her eyes clings to her lashes and falls as she buries her face into Xanthus chest.]

Please don't be afraid of me...

I-I'm not, [he just about whispers.] I'm-- I-I'm not. You don't s-scare me, Aara, you... y-you don't...

[And truly, she doesn't. She's not human - who cares? She was a victim of the virus - that's not her fault.

At least her kills, if she hurt anyone that terribly, were not in cold blood. She may be a killer, but she is no murderer.]

[Relief, warm and sweet, swells from within. Taxed and tensed muscles finally relax, and Aara sighs as a grateful smile forms. He wasn't afraid of her. An odd hiccup constricts her throat.]

I am glad...

I am so glad...

[But then panic and worry once again rises within her and she abruptly tries to lean away, frantic eyes searching out Xanth's.]

You... you have to promise me you will stay away if I ever get sick like that again. Everyone... has to stay away...

[Xanth can promise nothing when nothing is certain. Another plague might well hit the Keep, but it could just as easily never happen again.

But for her comfort, Xanth nods.]

I'll... I-I'll-- I'll try. Okay? I-I don't-- [But then he bites his lip and cut himself off.]

I-I'll try.

[Aara frowns slightly at that, lowering her eyes. It wasn't the promise she had hoped to hear. She only hoped it would be enough. After a while, she slowly nods. It would have to be enough.]

Thank you.

[One of Aara's hands is still on Xanth's shoulder, and her thumb and fidgets and lightly rubs against him as her mind once again drifts away. Maybe next time she could hide away. Or maybe if she found Zachariah's friend Aara could ask the woman to take her out before she became infected. The woman seemed to hold enough hostility in her. And why shouldn't she? Aara was all to blame. What would have happened if Zachariah hadn't managed to get away? What would have happened if Ironhide, Bobby, and the green stranger hadn't--hadn't snapped her wings or--a sob catches in the back of Aara's throat. She couldn't think about it. She'd be sick again if she thought about it.

Instead, Aara turned her nearly vacant gaze to Xanth. She should ask him a question. Change the subject.

Make him food.]

[Aara's looking at him, but she's not seeing him. Xanth's hand shifts onto her shoulder and he grips it, shaking her lightly and just once.]

H-Hey, hey, are-- a-are you-- o-okay?

[He's asking less for an answer, and more to bring her back to attention. He knows that look; she needs to be grounded.]

[It's not the words, but the gentle shaking that finally gets through to her. Aara starts, suddenly feeling as though her eyes are burning. She closes them, hanging her head a little as she tries to get a hold of herself.]

Sorry...

[She brings a hand up to rub at her face, and she sighs, lifting tired lids as she attempts to give her friend a smile she isn't entirely successful at accomplishing.]

I'm...fine...

[Or she will be. Hopefully.]

[Xanth knows that smile. It's one he's made in the past, and one he's made eo many times today.

Aara is not fine.]

Y-You... m-maybe you should-- should sleep...?

[She looks so, so tired. He knows this feeling, too, very well.]

[The smile that finds her lips after his comment is more genuine, her eyes warm from his concern.]

I do need to rest, but whenever I close my eyes...

[Her brows knit into a frown and she shakes her head. She knows her death was necessary. They saved her from killing any of her friends directly.]

I...I can't sleep just yet.

[She hopes Xanth can understand. Slipping fluidly from the bed and gently out of Xanth's embrace, Aara holds a hand out to him.]

I can make soup and bread. Maybe a full stomach will help both of us. You look tired, too, Xanth.

[A slight smile.]

You should relax in the hotspring while I cook. I can bring you soup later.

[Xanth takes Aara's hand, though he puts very little weight on it, and stands.]

I-I don't... know h-how much I... c-can eat. I-- I had something, e-earlier, s-so...

[But he could certainly use a bath...]

Oh... Okay.

[She wonders what the hot spring might be like. Is there a section for males and females? Maybe she should let Xanth go now, and she could go later and see for herself. It sounded wonderful.]

If you get hungry, let me know? I can make you something.

[Throat constricting a little, Aara continues.]

Thank you for listening to what I had to say. I know it is not good news.

Th--thanks, Aara.

[A faint smile passes across his face and as Aara thanks him, it grows.]

H-Hey, don't... [he reaches out, touches her on the shoulder] ...d-don't worry about that, o...okay?

I-I mean, t--turning into a-- a dragon? Th-that's... pretty cool.

[She gives a bit of a hesitant smile at his thank you. It turns into a full-blown smile when he rests a hand on her shoulder and at his next words.]

It is nice...being able to fly.

[Her head tilts up to the ceiling as an expression of joy and freedom crosses her face, imagining the feeling of gliding across the sky on a cool and starry night.]

Y-Yeah. It... m-must be.

[He feels a twinge of envy. Here Aara was worried about those who would accept her because of her power, when he had been so worried for so long about just the opposite.

But neither of them could help their status. In the Keep, they were on equal ground.

Xanth retracts his hand, then glances back at the door.]

I... I-I guess I should... get going...

[The combination of Xanth's expression and tone seemed somewhat off to Aara. She tilted her head to one side in question.]

Everything okay?

003. (v2) [video]

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[Commentlog] i am so sorry if these tags are ridiculous, i am right about to sleep

[Commentlog] DAW DON'T WORRY I LOVE THEM. Especially the ooc thread, lol!

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